MAISIE "JUDY" READMAN PRIEST

Monday

May 27, 2013 at 2:00 AM

August 26, 1923 - May 26, 2013

Middletown, NY

Maisie "Judy" Readman Priest was born August 26, 1923 in Colchester, Essex, England to the late George and Emily Coates Readman. She worked briefly in the Women's Land Army and then, for many years, in the Civil Nursing Reserves at St. Mary's Hospital in Colchester during World War II.

She met her husband, the late Cpl. John "Jack" Priest, at a dance for the 64th Airdrome Squadron in Colchester. As the war was ending, they were married on July 31, 1945 in England. Maisie became another British war bride awaiting the proper paperwork to start life anew in America. She finally received her documentation and traveled with other war brides to America aboard the SS John Ericsson for the nine day trip across the Atlantic.

Maisie left her parents, four brothers and a sister to come to an unknown land where she knew only one person - her husband. What a love that was!

In her new home, she started a family and later worked for Avon Products in Middletown, from which she retired. She was a member of St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church in Middletown and a former member of the Catholic Daughters of America. "Mom always put her family first. She was our rock - the head of a very large family."

She is survived by her children: Pamela Priest, Barbara Priest Lichwick, Michael Priest and Drew Priest, all of Middletown; John Priest and his companion, Maria Considine of Florida; her grandchildren: Monica Lichwick of Goshen, and Joseph Bryan Lichwich and his wife, Cynthia of the town of Newburgh; her cherished great grandchildren: Brooke McKenna Lichwick and Keira Sophia Lichwick, both of the Town of Newburgh. She is also survived by her sister, Joyce Readman Carter and her husband, James of England, her sisters-in-law: Jeanne Priest Peters and her husband, Donald of Lindenhurst, NY, Marion Dzierzek of Saratoga Springs, NY, Joan Readman, Doreen Readman and Marjory Readman, all of England; and many nieces and nephews, both in America and England.

She was predeceased by her loving husband of 40 years, John "Jack" Priest; her parents, George and Emily Readman; brothers: James and his wife, Doreen; William, Denis and Keith Readman; her sisters-in-law: Sue McConnell, Gladys Dineen, Marjorie Weyrauch and Julia Diamond; her infant grandson, Mark Lichwick; her niece, Diane Dineen and her nephew, Conrad Readman.

Friends are invited to call on Wednesday, May 29th from 9 to 10:30 a.m. at Morse Funeral Home Inc., 33 Railroad Ave., Middletown, NY. A Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m., Wednesday at St. Joseph Church, Middletown, followed by interment in St. Joseph Cemetery, Middletown.

Donations in Maisie's name may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-1942.

Arrangements are under the guidance of Morse Funeral Home Inc., Middletown, NY 845-343-6918 www.morsefuneralhome.com